On the Surface

Curves and subtle tapers define the furniture that Tim Coleman designs and makes, but it’s often on its surfaces where stories are told. Patterns and motifs are stamped, inscribed, pierced and pieced together, often in layers.

There are tales of techniques learnt and imagery discovered in a personal journey that moves both forwards and back in time. New techniques may be developed over a series of pieces, and also combined with others (photo 1).

‘I’ve always been drawn to patterns in nature and to different cultural design motifs’, Tim explains. ‘Early on I experimented with marquetry but not in a very traditional way, but instead using silhouettes and graphic elements. I love the way marquetry has been used in Art Deco and Art Nouveau furniture where stylised motifs are taken from